After viewing the rankings on ESPN.com’s draft site, I saw that both Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. – considered “experts” in the industry – rated Michigan State’s Drew Stanton as the third best QB prospect. What? You mean the same Drew Stanton that threw for a minuscule 12 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions his senior season? The Drew Stanton that led the Spartans to a 1-7 record in the Big Ten and crapped himself under pressure at every turn?

Heading into the 2006 season, Stanton was regarded by many as the best quarterback prospect in the NCAA. After MSU’s collapse, Stanton dropped off the radar, only to rise again after Troy Smith’s national championship game debacle. This is what I find funny about these national scouts. They pick a horse, ride it, and if it starts to crumble, hop off and find another.

To me, the third best prospect in the draft is still Smith. He is extremely athletic, throws a very catchable ball and gives a team versatility as far as running the ball. Don’t get me wrong; neither prospect should go earlier than round three in my opinion, but to hear that Stanton is getting better grades than Smith is a joke. Everyone points to lack of height with Smith, but forgot what he did on the field last year, which is the only thing that should matter.

You want to talk about crappin themself under pressure; did you watch the national championship game? Do you watch college football or just write an occasional piece of ____ article for a paycheck. You’re a joke! Drew Stanton made plays his entire career. You want to take one season where his team just melted into goo and prosecute him for that? Why dont you go look at the drop ball total. Why don’t you look at the receivers that both of these qb’s were working with. Go ahead and look at sacks and qb pressures and how many times Stanton’s offensive line broke down all around him like Robert Downey Jr. in a hooka lounge. Go ahead and look the All-Star College Challenge where Stanton made Smith look like a jv qb. Please, look at something before you just spout off at the mouth to your fourteen readers.

No offense there Ron, but as a guy who has seen more than enough Michigan State games in his life, I agree that Stanton is projected too high. I wouldn’t want my NFL team taking him on the first day at all.

You say Stanton made plays, he made some, but he was never able to lead his team to wins over Michigan or Ohio State, and had the oppourtunity to do so more than once.

Stanton looked great early in his career, but was often injured. That continued on for four years. His biggest asset it seems is his ability to run, which won’t fly in the NFL with the improved speed of every defensive player. Stanton’s arm has alway been questionable and with 300 pound guys breathing down your neck, that arm will get even worse.

I think Stanton could be a good player, but four years of poor coaching and the inability to bring Michigan State back from the dead as many thought he would do makes his a poor NFL prospect in my view. I think Jeff Smoker was a better prospect in his time, and he is nowhere to be found right now.

You can throw insults my way, but I have seen as much MSU football as you, and I have nothing against the Spartans, but reality is reality Ron.

Please, look at something before you just spout off at the mouth to your fourteen readers.

Ouch.

You don’t want me to hold Stanton’s senior season against him? What more of a recent example do you want of this kid’s abilities on the field? And if you answer with the All-Star College Challenge, than we’re on two different planets. You mean the same All-Star Challenge that is meant to be for fun and doesn’t have any bearing on how teams grade a prospect come draft time? The same All-Star Challenge that has produced such great NFL talents as Jared Lorenzen, Jeff Smoker, Charlie Whitehurst and Greg Olson?

When Stanton needed to step up and be a big boy against Notre Dame, Michigan and Ohio State, he was at his worst. If you want to go ahead and blame the line, his receivers or coaching, that’s fine, but we can find examples of that for Smith too. But as another poster alluded too, this guy hardly ever stepped up against top opponents. Smith beat Michigan and Texas before crapping the bed against Florida, who by the way, had the best front seven of any team in college football last year. He was also without his No.1 receiver and no help from Jim Tressel.

Lets look at this realistically, Ron:

Given the offense that John L. Smith ran at MSU, what pro-style scheme will Stanton best fit into? He can’t run the option in the NFL and his inconsistencies won’t work in a WCO. John L’s system is tailor made for college football, because it mostly relies on athletic ability as opposed to breaking down a defense.

How many injuries did Stanton suffer at MSU? He couldn’t hold up under pressure, had mental lapses at inopportune times and rarely bounced back from a mistake. He was inconsistent, relied too much on his legs and focused often on primary targets. I think the kid has all the physical tools to succeed and has great character, but you also need the coconut in order to succeed in the NFL. That’s my point about these ESPN analyst who jump on a guy just because of his height, weight and All-Star College Challenge stats.

If I were the Raiders, Texans, Browns or Lions in the third round, why would I go with a guy like Stanton who crumbled under a suspect cast in college? Why should I expect anything different on the next level? Why, if we’re comparing apples to apples, would I not go with Smith, who ran a more pro style offense in college, has better judgment, will look at multiple options before running and has more overall athletic ability? If a team like the Bears or Ravens need a backup quarterback, I think Drew Stanton would do well because the defense would cover up his mistakes while he learned. But I just don’t see Stanton, in my opinion, being a more NFL-ready quarterback right now over Smith. I’m not down on Stanton on a whole; I just don’t see his value being higher than Smith’s right now given THIS draft.